Major fire doors review is ordered at tower blocks

Labour election candidate Murad Qureshi demanded ‘immediate’ action to reassure residents in the Little Venice towers in the March 30 edition of the Westminster Extra

AN “extensive” review of fire door standards in three council tower blocks has been launched.

CityWest Homes has written to residents in the Little Venice estate about inspections that will be carried out in coming weeks by Fire Doors Compliance Consultants Ltd.

Residents have to book appointments on April 18 and 19, the letter says.

It adds: “The inspector will then report back to CityWest Homes.

“We will use this report to guide our works programme, which may involve upgrading the existing tenants’ doors where possible, and replacing doors and frames where upgrading is not possible. These checks are in addition to standard checks.”

The review follows statements from the London Fire Brigade that said the type of doors in the Grenfell Tower in Kensington & Chelsea were only able to resist fire for “half the time expected”.

It has led to calls for a review of fire doors in high rise blocks across Westminster.

In the Grenfell disaster of June 14 last year, at least 71 people lost their lives in the blaze at the 24-storey tower.